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Japan’s new stealth jet fighter has been officially unveiled
The Aviationist ^ | Jul 12 2014 | David Cenciotti

Posted on 07/13/2014 8:12:18 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin stealth fighter has rolled out.

Last month, a leaked, blurry image provided an interesting preview of the first prototype of the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X), the indigenous war plane that Japan Air Self-Defense Force will operate in the air defense role, replacing the ageing Mitsubishi F-2.

On Jul. 12, the first official photos of the ATD-X (serialled 51-0001) were released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI), the Ministry of Defense’s agency that has developed the Shinshin (“spirit of the heart”, an early codename within the Japan Self Defense Force) for research purposes.

Indeed, the ATD-X will be used for the development of the F-3, Japan’s next generation stealth jet.

Noteworthy, the “new” images were taken on May 8, 2014, when the painting of the canted vertical tails radar-evading air superiority fighter with enhanced maneuverability ended.

Image credit: mod.go.jp via Alert 5 (H/T to Antonio Valencia for the heads-up).


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; atdx; japan; stealth
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To: doorgunner69

Possibly tactical stealth - it’s possible to generally detect any stealth aircraft with a big enough radio array. But tactical stealth, where you can’t lock munitions onto the enemy and you must close in to use guns when all his weapons lock on to you just fine is seriously demoralizing and a good way to get dead for no return.


41 posted on 07/13/2014 10:05:49 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: gaijin

The actual F-2s are relatively recent - but the base design is from the 1970s. The F-2 is a license-built copy of the F-16 which first flew in 1974, with the Block 52 updates and changes as of 1991.

That’s at least a 20 year old design any way you look at it now.


42 posted on 07/13/2014 10:09:29 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Cen-Tejas

The smaller Nissan outboards are actually Tohatsus Tohatsu outboards are the heart of the Japanese fishing fleet. They are designed to handle both fresh and salt water and are considered the best small outboards in the world.

Tohatsu started making outboards about the same time Evinrude did.

There was a time when almost all the small outboards in the U.S. were made by Tohatsu, and just rebranded.


43 posted on 07/13/2014 10:10:11 PM PDT by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

they’ve just made mark’s jet from g-force.

seriously, looks nice, kinda big in the nose, but nice.


44 posted on 07/13/2014 10:29:06 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Now they need to start working on the Phoenix! The fiery test might be spectacular.


45 posted on 07/13/2014 10:31:55 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Secret Agent Man
Hang on a minute... I liked the old version better!!


46 posted on 07/13/2014 10:34:18 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Secret Agent Man
did you know they made a live action movie of G-Force... I mean Gatchaman.. (Science Ninja Team)...

It must have been really bad because there is a couple Youtube trailers and nothing else I can find.


And then there is the bad guy.... or girl...


47 posted on 07/13/2014 10:40:35 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: gaijin
Anybody care to speculate about the blurring inside of the inlets, and what might be there..?

My first guess, The Japanese are hiding the method that they used to block radar waves from giving a return signal. Air intakes are a major radar reflector.

F-117 Nighthawk

My second guess, There may be a door that closes the main intake. An auxiliary door is behind and above it. It may be a combination of both guesses.

B-2 Spirit

48 posted on 07/13/2014 11:08:11 PM PDT by Daaave ("You Nexus, huh? I design your eyes.")
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To: GeronL

didn’t they call that firebird mode or something like that?


49 posted on 07/13/2014 11:10:22 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

different versions called it different things.

In the original Japanese version the plane was called The God Phoenix, forget what the fiery mode was called. They have like 102 episodes of the original at Hulu


50 posted on 07/13/2014 11:14:28 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: GeronL

!


51 posted on 07/14/2014 2:26:33 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (The end move in politics is always to pick up a weapon...0'Jihadist/"Rustler" Reid? d8-)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

More legit than the Iranian one


52 posted on 07/14/2014 6:32:05 AM PDT by JRios1968 (I'm guttery and trashy, with a hint of lemon. - Laz)
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To: marktwain

Thank you! I did not know any of that!

I am bumping up to a 20hp next year!


53 posted on 07/14/2014 9:15:34 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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